Cashmere Mafia Rundown: Episode 3, "Dangerous Liaisons"

Cashmere Mafia Rundown: Episode 3, "Dangerous Liaisons"

Since we're sadly lacking Gossip Girl for our Wednesday night scandal fix, I'm going to try recapping Cashmere Mafia for a while. Yeah, I know it's been a little disappointing so far, but hey, it's a scripted series that's still airing new episodes! Plus, there are only four episodes left after this one, so it's a pretty low commitment. Anyone with me? Let's get to it:

So Mia is in publishing, Juliet works in hotels, Caitlin does cosmetics marketing, and Zoe does . . . what, exactly? No, seriously, what's her job? I'm three episodes in, and I know her work involves something about "points" and making sure her scantily clad coworker doesn't sue her boss, but other than that, I'm stumped.

Also, so much of this show seems like a placeholder they meant to go back and punch up later but didn't have time to fix. Naming a magazine for modern men Modern Man is a lot like naming a fashion magazine Fashion Magazine. As for "Do you know what they call a cosmetics executive with bad skin? Don't make me finish that sentence," I bet they just couldn't come up with a funny way to finish the sentence.

More plot development and slightly less whining if you read more.

So Juliet can't have sex without consequences because she's a woman? We've never heard that one before. That said, I did actually get a kick out of her stringing along poor Bobby Walsh, who flew across the ocean for a chance to hook up with her, even if it was lame that she ended up laugh-crying in his hotel bed and then going back to Davis.

A big part of the episode revolved around a new blog about corporate women called Regrets Only, which seems to be nothing but blind items about our four main characters. Mia's was about walking all over Jack — which, let's face it, she kind of did. But that came back to haunt her when Jack's magazine cover for Modern Man ended up being a picture of a woman about to chow down on a man on a plate. Zing! She got the upper hand in the end, though, with her letter from the Modern Woman.

Also, when did Mia actually get to tell her parents Jack had proposed? She was only engaged for about five minutes!

Meanwhile, Caitlin has a zit because she's stressed about her new potential relationship, which seems to mostly consist of making out in the middle of the street. No wonder she's already a blind item. If this were Gossip Girl, there would be spies everywhere snapping cell phone pictures.

But seriously, I think Caitlin is the most interesting character at this point. She seems so nonchalant about discovering a new side to her sexuality; all of her stress seems to come from normal fears about screwing up a relationship. Plus, she's the most lovably neurotic of all of them so far.

Really, did anyone not think that Katherine was going to end up sleeping with the boss and that Zoe would find out? Furthermore, did the boss really think he could fire her without a lawsuit?

The scene with Caitlin's boss trying to guess what made her zit go away was cute but a little drawn out, no? "We don't have a concealer named honesty."

So, what did you think? What were the best moments — and which were the most ridiculous? And do you think you can stick it out till the end of this mini-season?

This show has a lot of down sides, but I'm beginning to get really into it. I know it's not amazing, but it has a lot of potential and I'm definitely going to continue to watch it. I think that Zoe is in a PR firm? possibly, maybe?

I'm with everyone who really wants to like this show but just can't quite get there. Buzz, you are dead-on about the dialogue being lacking at best, when not totally ludicrous. As someone with a journalism degree I found Lucy Lui's Letter from the Editor to be incredibly cliched and uninspiring. Also totally caught the cosmetic joke they couldn't finish-pathetic. And I STILL can't figure out based on weird stilted convos if Davis took Cilla to Anguilla (tee hee) or not. Anyone?
Anyway, SATC dialogue was so damn sharp. It's hard not to compare.
Really disagree with everyone who said they like Caitlin-she seems dirty all the time to me, like trailer-trashy and greasy-looking-ew! My favorite character is Zoe. I know she is pretty blah, but to me when someone can manage to have a normal life in a really high-pressure, unusual situation, I find that really interesting.
I thought the only good twist of the show is when it turned out Katherine was like, a professional con minion, who pulled the whole lusty tryst +lawsuit threat one two punch in order to advance at every place she ever worked. She played Zoe like a pack of cards, that's for sure.
Also agree Brooke Shields is more yogurt commercial material than sexy modern show heroine, but here's hoping for Lipstick. At this point I'll take a jungle over a mafia in blind faith.

Does anyone else think it's bizarre that this new blog is created and even Juliet's DAUGHTER has read it? Gossip Girl at least has a foundation for the blog, but for this blog to just pop up seems incredibly odd.
That said, I need more of Zoe's husband in the plot just for something to look at. Come back Gossip Girl!

I love Juliet out of all the Cashmere Mafia girls, although I did tune in this show for Lucy Liu. Juliet's character draws me to continue watching this show especially during the strike. Because episode 3 ended very satisfying for Juliet, i'm not sure if I will tune in purposly the next time but I will keep an eye out for now. It may become one of my "occasional" shows.

I'm actually really enjoying this show. At first, I spent too much time comparing it to SatC...who's Samantha, who's Carrie, etc. But once I stopped, I began to enjoy the story about four businesswomen. I'm with everyone else about the careers, though. No idea about Zoe...and why she was trying to buy a facebookesque online community. That was random. I hope they bring back the mom from Zoe's kid's school who was propositioning Zoe's husband. I thought that storyline was fun.

I like this show. I don't love it, but I like it. Even though some of the situations seem over-the-top (NannyGate), I can totally sympathize with Zoe's mother-and-career-woman balancing act. I find her the most real and most sympathetic of all the characters. I love Eowyn and enjoy seeing her make Davis squirm (the scene in the pilot where she's in the kitchen explaining why she's stayed with him all these years was gold baby, gold!) and love, love, LOVE Mia's outfits. I think the writers were dead-on in their portrayal of how after all these years and all these successes, she's still intimidated by her parents (a lot of Asian-American women have this to contend with).
And while I like Caitlin and am jealous of her job, hers is the character I find least sympathetic.
And yea -- Zoe's in M&A in investment banking.

i'm REALLY trying to like this show - but they are making it hard for me. at least now i know a little bit more about what everyone does - and what their names are and the sort. it looks like the plot is going to get a little deeper in the coming episodes...
too bad lipstick jungle premiers in a week or 2 - they will have steep competition - the book was GREAT

I haven't read this full post b/c I DVR'ed the episode and haven't watched it yet. But I had to comment b/c I actually like this show. Sure, it's definitely NO SATC, but nothing ever will be. This is fun and I love Lucy Liu. I am also looking forward to Lipstick Jungle, but I've never been a huge fan of Brooke Shields so I hope the show isn't too "Brooke" centered. Thanks for the recaps!!

I really only like the Zoe & Juliet storylines right now. I think the whole "lesbian" storyline is a little lacking. But I am interested to see what happens when that guy piques her interest.
I "watch" this show, aka- it's on while I surf the web.
AND WHATEVER HAPPENED WITH ZOE'S HUSBAND'S STORYLINE? I expected to see some reference/issues about building that woman's kitchen. Seriously, it was a big deal and they just dropped it next episode.

isnt that a little harsh? although, i have to agree, its not the strongest series, its not that weak either. i'm so glad you pointed out their careers, because i've spent the last 3 episodes trying to figure it out, i too am stuck on zoe's, lol. i have to say, i'm not a fan of juliet's - she's so incredibly over-dramatic, and doesnt really seem to fit in with the rest of the group. as for the engagement, i think mia had plenty of time to call her mom -it only takes seconds when you're that excited, besides they didn't break up for a few days after...the blog was...interesting? very random.

i agree that caitlin seems like the most interesting character so far. although i really hated the hair and makeup they had her in this episode. too harsh, I know she works for a cosmetic company but still. the whole thing with juliet and bobby walsh was entertaining but i got irritated with the whole capjalluca thing with her and davis. i'll stick it out and hope they work out the kinks. but am definitely looking forward to 'lipstick jungle'. maybe the characters will be more fleshed out.